Applying with MCAT 'pending'?

[circulus vitios]

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From my understanding, pre-meds usually take the MCAT over the summer of their sophomore-junior year or at the beginning of their junior year, then submit med school applications at the end of their junior year. Because of how my courses are scheduled I won't have my medical school pre-requisites completed until the end of my junior year. I won't be able to take my MCAT 'on time', and I won't be able to submit applications 'on time'. This screws up the application cycle since by the time I take the MCAT, my application will be late.

Sorry for the rambling, but my main question is: is there any way for me to submit applications without taking my MCAT yet (like MCAT: pending), so it won't mess up the cycle and I won't have to take a year off?

 

[Chuck's Right Foot]

From my understanding, pre-meds usually take the MCAT over the summer of their sophomore-junior year or at the beginning of their junior year, then submit med school applications at the end of their junior year. Because of how my courses are scheduled I won't have my medical school pre-requisites completed until the end of my junior year. I won't be able to take my MCAT 'on time', and I won't be able to submit applications 'on time'. This screws up the application cycle since by the time I take the MCAT, my application will be late.

Sorry for the rambling, but my main question is: is there any way for me to submit applications without taking my MCAT yet (like MCAT: pending), so it won't mess up the cycle and I won't have to take a year off?

You take the MCAT the spring before you apply (Feb-September works though) and apply during the Summer/Fall before you want to matriculate. You don't have to have your MCAT scores yet to start the AMCAS application.

So for you, take your MCAT around May/June of Junior year, and start your application right after finishing your MCAT.

 

[shiftingmirage]

Sorry for the rambling, but my main question is: is there any way for me to submit applications without taking my MCAT yet (like MCAT: pending), so it won't mess up the cycle and I won't have to take a year off?

To submit AMCAS, you must have 1 MCAT score, so no. You do not have to complete all your prereqs before taking the MCAT. Obviosuly it's very useful to have them done, but not required.

For the prereqs you have not finished, get a review book and learn the info.

 

[chad5871]

To submit AMCAS, you must have 1 MCAT score, so no. You do not have to complete all your prereqs before taking the MCAT. Obviosuly it's very useful to have them done, but not required.

For the prereqs you have not finished, get a review book and learn the info.

Not true. You can submit your AMCAS without an MCAT score. When the MCAT scores are loaded into the application they will be sent out to the schools then.

Furthermore, you can submit the AMCAS with just 1 school on your list. Then, when you get back your MCAT score you can finalize your school list and add them to your AMCAS. That way your application will be verified (can take up to 6 weeks) and you can strategically apply to schools.

 

[dynezxice]

From my understanding, pre-meds usually take the MCAT over the summer of their sophomore-junior year or at the beginning of their junior year, then submit med school applications at the end of their junior year. Because of how my courses are scheduled I won't have my medical school pre-requisites completed until the end of my junior year. I won't be able to take my MCAT 'on time', and I won't be able to submit applications 'on time'. This screws up the application cycle since by the time I take the MCAT, my application will be late.

Sorry for the rambling, but my main question is: is there any way for me to submit applications without taking my MCAT yet (like MCAT: pending), so it won't mess up the cycle and I won't have to take a year off?

This is not true since you don't know if the majority of premeds take it in the summer of their soph-junior year or the beginning of the 3rd year. I certainly didn't take my MCAT till the summer of my junior year and my application was "on time" , if not early.

As chad said, you can submit your AMCAS app without having an MCAT score. Just check on the application that you have a pending MCAT score and input your test date.

 

[Chuck's Right Foot]

I'm backing up Chad here. You can start the process and submit before the MCAT.

 

[StPlayrXtreme]

yes, I actually did this last application cycle.

I was initially signed up to take the test in June, but I postponed to July because I wanted more time to study. However, I took many practice tests and had a pretty clear idea of how I did after I took the test. So I went out on a limb and submitted my primary application when I got home...it worked out fine for me. Although, the week before my score was released was a big agonizing.

You can also submit your primary before you actually take the MCAT, you just need to tell them the date that you're registered for.

 

[circulus vitios]

This is not true since you don't know if the majority of premeds take it in the summer of their soph-junior year or the beginning of the 3rd year. I certainly didn't take my MCAT till the summer of my junior year and my application was "on time" , if not early.

As chad said, you can submit your AMCAS app without having an MCAT score. Just check on the application that you have a pending MCAT score and input your test date.

Ok, that's a big relief. I wonder where I picked up the idea that pre-meds took it in the supper of their sophomore-junior year. Anyways, thanks for setting me straight, this is a big relief. 😎

 

[DrWookie]

With the computerized MCAT scores are back in a month. I took my MCAT in May and got scores in June...after taking the MCAT I started working on the AMCAS and by the time my scores arrived I was ready to submit the application.

 

[slowbutsteady]

Ok, that's a big relief. I wonder where I picked up the idea that pre-meds took it in the supper of their sophomore-junior year. Anyways, thanks for setting me straight, this is a big relief. 😎

supper, yum. is a hot meal served during the MCAT?

 

[dynezxice]

Ok, that's a big relief. I wonder where I picked up the idea that pre-meds took it in the supper of their sophomore-junior year. Anyways, thanks for setting me straight, this is a big relief. 😎

No problem. Besides, it is unwise to take the MCAT before you finish all of your pre-reqs during summer of soph-junior year. Many a times I've noticed that people who took this step ended up retaking the exam because they weren't prepared for it. Good luck.

 

[njbmd]

From my understanding, pre-meds usually take the MCAT over the summer of their sophomore-junior year or at the beginning of their junior year, then submit med school applications at the end of their junior year. Because of how my courses are scheduled I won't have my medical school pre-requisites completed until the end of my junior year. I won't be able to take my MCAT 'on time', and I won't be able to submit applications 'on time'. This screws up the application cycle since by the time I take the MCAT, my application will be late.

Sorry for the rambling, but my main question is: is there any way for me to submit applications without taking my MCAT yet (like MCAT: pending), so it won't mess up the cycle and I won't have to take a year off?

You can apply with the MCAT pending. The only risk that you take is that if your MCAT score is not competitive, you may need a retake. Back when I applied for medical school, the MCAT was only offered in April and August. Since I had my graduate school comprehensive exams, I couldn't make the April test and opted to submit my AMCAS application in June with no MCAT score. My score became available on October 15th and I had my first interview invitation on October 17th. In short, my application had been reviewed already and they were just waiting for my scores.

If I hadn't done well on the MCAT, there might have been a problem but I MADE sure that I was well prepared for that test and my score reflected my preparation. My first interview was in early November and my sixth and last interview was in late January with my last acceptance coming the first week of February. I didn't want to wait until October for MCAT scores before submitting the AMCAS and thus, I submitted without which turned out to be a good strategy.

If you are secure with the knowledge that you are well prepared for the MCAT, then submit your AMCAS as early as you can get everything together with the knowledge that medical schools won't act on your application until your MCAT score is in. Do NOT take the MCAT until you are thoroughly prepared for that test. Good luck